The 26-year-old man accused of the murder of Nyanga ward councillor, Lazola Gungxe, has had previous trouble with the law.
Asiphe Sesanti made his first court appearance on Monday, in connection with Gungxe’s February murder.
The 48-year-old ward councillor was fatally shot outside a community hall in Gwayi Street on 3 February, after a community meeting.
Western Cape Provincial Police Commissioner, Thembisile Patekile, told media outside the Athlone Magistrates Court that Sesanti was arrested when he appeared in court for a different murder and attempted murder case last Friday.
Patekile also noted that there was another case related to illegal firearm possession that he’s also been implicated in, which he said is the third incident involving the accused that he’s aware of.
#sapsWC [IN COURT TODAY] A suspect accused of the murder of councillor Lazola Gungxe appeared in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 09/03. Gungxe, 48, was fatally shot on 03 February 2026 after a community meeting in the Nyanga/Crossroads area.
The accused, 26yr-old… pic.twitter.com/JUBJw4Eaon
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) March 9, 2026
The National Prosecuting Authority confirmed that Sesanti returns to court on 24 March for a bail application.
Members of the ANC also gathered outside the Athlone Magistrates Court in support of Gungxe’s family.
ANC representative Ndithini Tyhido expressed concern, noting that Gungxe’s murder follows the murders of other public servants.
“The ANC is saying this in light of the number of other murders that have occured in Crossroads, ward 36, where more than five councillors would have been murdered with councillor Gungxe being the fifth one,” said Tyhido.
He said the party wants the National Political Killings Task Team involved in the investigation to uncover the motive for the killings.
“The ANC in the Dullah Omar Region is making a firm call that the police must leave no stone unturned… [It] should not matter who is involved, even if it were to be amongst us members of the ANC or members of the community, who are involved in the murder of these public servants,” said Tyhido.
